Russia visits leads to €9m in new contracts
More than €9m worth of new export deals were signed by Irish firms during a trade mission to Russia, it was confirmed today.
Trade and Commerce Minister Billy Kelleher said the contracts landed during the week would create jobs and add momentum to economic recovery.
Mr Kelleher led 30 companies on the trade mission, which was organised by Enterprise Ireland and coincided with President Mary McAleese’s visit to Russia.
He described it as another important step in Ireland’s economic recovery.
“The trade mission has laid important foundations on which we can build a better trading and bilateral relationship with Russia,” he said.
Russia is Europe’s largest emerging market and Ireland is the seventh largest provider of foreign direct investment to Russia, ahead of the US and Japan.
Irish exports to the country grew by over 66% in the first five months of this year.
Firms on the trip were from a range of sectors including engineering, construction, food and drink, education, business services and communications technology.
Irish hi-tech firms Digisoft, Adaptive Mobile, OpenJaw and Norkom Technologies were among those that landed lucrative new sales deals.
Meanwhile, Trinity College Dublin and Dublin Institute of Technology announced partnership agreements with higher education institutions in Russia.
Frank Ryan, chief executive of Enterprise Ireland, added: “Russia is Europe’s largest emerging market and the success of this mission verifies that Irish products and services are well matched to Russian market demands.
“The work we have done this week in highlighting Irish products and services to Russian businesses has further built on Ireland’s reputation in this important high-growth market.”
